cbf@allegra.UUCP (09/16/83)
There is indeed a soundtrack to *Rollerball*. I just saw it this past weekend. In addition to the Toccata and Fugue in G minor, the soundtrack also includes excerpts from Shostakovich's 5th Symphony, the very popular Albinoni Adagio and other snippets of classical music. Andre Previn is the conductor. The record was at J&R Music World in New York, but it should be available elsewhere.
jlp@inmet.UUCP (09/17/83)
#R:tekid:-152600:inmet:6600010:000:3363
inmet!jlp Sep 16 13:54:00 1983
There are literally hundreds of versions of Bach's Toccata and Fugue
in D Minor out there. Some are excellent renditions. Other are "caveat
emptor". Here are just a few thoughts:
E. Power Biggs
The late master must have recorded this piece every 5 years. There is a
proliferation of his material on the market. One album circa 1958 had
a whole side with nothing but the toccata on it, played on various
instruments around Europe. This was useful for students of the organ
who wished to develop an ear for registration and its effectiveness
in varied accoustic settings. I tend to think of his renditions as the
"benchmark" against which all others are measured.
Robert Ellmore
This artist is memorable for me. The album on which his rendition is
given includes other of Bach's greatest organ hits ( In Dulce Jubilo,
Wachet Auf, and the memorable Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major)
all played on the world's largest ( at that time ) organ- the
auditorium instrument at the Atlantic City Convention Hall. This
masterpiece has over 1250 stop and 400 ranks of pipes controlled
from a single console of 7 manuals. The largest pipe is the bass C
of the pedal, 64 ft. long by 3 feet wide !! Those of you with DC
amps and full range speakers may be able to enjoy this one. I just
hope your turntable doesn't try to suppress 8 Hz as a resonant
frequency! While the album may no longer be purchaseable, many
public libraries may have it in their music rooms.
Virgil Fox
A must for afficionados of the modern sound in organum. Fox's massive
registration heightens the chordal structure in the first few
measures of the toccata. His pedalwork is also pretty clean, although
this is not the piece to showcase that.
Walter Kraft
This selection is included in an 18 disk compendium of Bach's organ
music. It is a reasonable effort, which is faithful to the score.
A good buy for the whole collection in general.
Anthony Newman
I was not impressed with this rendition, played on a three manual organ
in Hartford, CT. While the instrument was up to the music, the
musician left much to be desired in the interpretation . I found
the rendition choppy , and lacking sufficient contrast to give the
piece a sense of motion and elevation. Try another selection.
Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia
I caught this on a 1972 Columbia release, " Bach's Greatest Hits".
The orchestra just does not do justice to the toccata, which by
definition is a "touch" piece. I grew fond of their fugue rendition,
although I probably would prefer to hear it from a less "stringy"
ensemble.
Leopold Stolkowsky
Unable to report, although I like what I hear on the Audi commercials.
His is the arrangement used in the 1940's Disney movie, "Fantasia".
There are many others , to be sure. I suggest starting with some of
the above to get a sense of reference for the entire piece ( The first
measure must be one of the most overworked music phrases in all
cinema ). By the way, if someone knows of additional excellent
renditions which I may have overlooked, please pass them on to me.
I still review new stuff to enhance my own interpretation of the
score.
Many thanks,
The Organ Keyboard of
Jerryl Payne
{harpo,ima}!inmet!jlpCSvax:cak@pur-ee.UUCP (09/21/83)
By all means, if you're trying to find a recording of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in d, find a recording by E. Power Biggs (there was a series of three or five "E. Power Biggs Organ Favorites" or some such -- all highly recommended). Cheers, Chris Kent